STAR TREK: RENAISSANCE "Encounters of Chance" Written by James Sampson This teleplay is originally from www.startrekrenaissance.com "Star Trek" and related names are registered trademarks of Paramount Pictures, Inc. This original work of fiction is written solely for non-profit purposes. Copyright 2002 by The Renaissance Group All rights reserved RENAISSANCE: "Encounters of Chance" - TEASER 1. TEASER FADE IN: EXT. SPACE The Enterprise at warp. QUINLAN (V.O.) The USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-G. The flagship of the Federation, the pride of Starfleet. With 21 decks, over four hundred crew members and a maximum cruising speed of warp 9.998, it is the eighth starship to bear the name of Enterprise and continues in her predecessor's historic legacy to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations and to boldly go... ugh, no, that's such a cliché nowadays... INT. TEN FORWARD Evening, and the bar is fairly busy. In one corner sit ELRIS and QUINLAN, the latter reading from her PADD. ELRIS I'm sure Zefram Cochrane would be flattered to hear that. QUINLAN Well, I'm sorry, but it is. If I say this to this lot, they're just going to want to throw up. ELRIS Throw up? QUINLAN Sorry, is that not the correct terminology? ELRIS We prefer emesis. QUINLAN Great. Think I can put that in my tour? ELRIS It's too bad you're stuck doing this while the rest of us are out having fun. RENAISSANCE: "Encounters of Chance" - TEASER 2. QUINLAN All part of my community service. Why should I get any shore leave when there are guests to be shown round? ELRIS I think it's marvelous how you don't complain more. QUINLAN I know, I'm a saint. ELRIS Why is Neil allowing people to look around the ship, anyway? We're not a tourist attraction. QUINLAN Oh, some new Starfleet policy that's just come through. The idea is if your ship is using a planet for shore leave, the very least you can do is repay the hospitality by showing people around non-sensitive areas. Although in my experience showing people your sensitive areas is a lot more fun. ELRIS You have a one-track mind, Quinlan. QUINLAN Well, can you blame me, it's been a while. ELRIS Not everything revolves around sex, you know. QUINLAN So, I've heard. Don't believe it myself. DOJAR enters the room, and NODS briefly at them. ELRIS Dojar. DOJAR Doctor, Quinlan. He walks over to the bar. ELRIS I wonder how he's going to get on? RENAISSANCE: "Encounters of Chance" - TEASER 3. QUINLAN What do you mean? ELRIS Ionis has a large Bajoran population, particularly in the capitol. QUINLAN But that's not a problem any more is it? ELRIS Not as much as it was, but old prejudices die hard sometimes. Some people have very long memories. QUINLAN Yeah, but surely they're the minority? I can't believe in our enlightened society... ELRIS Look over there. She POINTS at Dojar, who is sitting alone. ELRIS (CONT'D) How often do you see him eating with someone? Or drinking? Or socialising at all? QUINLAN Maybe he's just antisocial. ELRIS Maybe he is. Or maybe we don't have as enlightened a society as we'd like to think. We all have skeletons in our closets after all... and some people keep wanting to resurrect them. Quinlan glances at Dojar again. INT. Y'LAN'S LAB Y'LAN is working at his table while GREY is working at an OPEN WORK PANEL with a TRICORDER. Y'LAN And what do you do during this time? GREY We rest, and try and relax a little bit. RENAISSANCE: "Encounters of Chance" - TEASER 4. Y'LAN I have never seen you relaxing before. GREY No. Surely the Q'tami aren't working all the time? Y'LAN Meditation is part of our daily routine, and as such we do not need to designate other periods for... relaxing. GREY (not really listening) This conduit is going to need replacing. I need to go down to Engineering to get a tool. Y'LAN I do not require it at the moment. GREY That's okay, I don't mind doing it. Between you and me, I don't mind spending some time out of Engineering, Ensign Boyle is being... difficult. Y'LAN Your mate is refusing to copulate? That could be interesting to observe... GREY On second thought, I think there's a replicator in Ten Forward that needs fixing. I'll send someone down to fix this. Y'LAN Ensign Boyle? GREY (firmly) Absolutely not. Y'LAN Perhaps it is as well. I wish to communicate with the Hegemony. They will be greatly interested in the phenomenon of shore leave. GREY Thank you. As he replaces the cover of the conduit, Y'lan POWERS DOWN his table. Grey frowns as he stands up. RENAISSANCE: "Encounters of Chance" - TEASER 5. GREY (CONT'D) I thought you were going to contact your people? Y'LAN You forget, I do not need subspace. GREY But don't you send them your findings? Y'LAN The table is not a conduit for transmitting my research, just collecting it. Once I have done so, I can recall it all. Sending data telepathically is much quicker. GREY I'll leave you to it then. He EXITS. After he is gone, Y'lan closes his eyes and begins to go into a TRANCE-LIKE state. Suddenly, his eyes fly open and he lets out a high-pitched SQUEAL as his body starts to shake. His tentacles start to FLARE as he goes into a SPASM, lashing out at his table, the door, the conduit where Grey was working. He continues to THRASH wildly as we... FADE OUT. END OF TEASER RENAISSANCE: "Encounters of Chance" - ACT ONE 6. ACT ONE FADE IN: EXT. SPACE The Enterprise orbits a small-looking planet with green land masses and blue seas. CROSS (V.O.) Captain's log, Stardate 78457.4. The Enterprise has entered orbit around Ionis, and the crew are looking forward to a relaxing few days. I have assembled the senior staff for a final briefing before we all have some time off. However, concern has been raised for the health of Y'lan, who was found earlier today unconscious in his lab. Doctor Elris is monitoring his condition. INT. BRIEFING ROOM CROSS, TALORA, Grey, Quinlan, and Dojar are present. As the scene begins Elris ENTERS. ELRIS Sorry. CROSS No need to apoligize, Doctor. How is he? ELRIS I wish I could tell you. He's still unconscious but his life signs, as far as I can see, haven't changed since we brought him in. We know so little about Q'tami physiology that your guess is as good as mine at the moment. QUINLAN We should contact the Hegemony, ask them for advice. CROSS Unfortunately, the Hegemony are less than easy to get a hold of. The only way we've been able to communicate with them is through Y'lan, so at the moment we're stuck. RENAISSANCE: "Encounters of Chance" - ACT ONE 7. GREY I tried again at his table, but I couldn't find anything that looked like a communication port. CROSS Suggestions, Doctor? ELRIS We'll keep him under close observation, keep an eye out for any further deterioration. We can't do more than that. CROSS All right, keep me informed. Moving on, Mr. Dojar, Harris informs me you've reduced the number of security details from four to three, why is this? DOJAR Captain, Lieutenant Jaid has taken her maternity leave, and until she returns we cannot keep up four details. CROSS Lieutenant, the security of this ship is of paramount importance. I cannot believe you couldn't replace the lieutenant while she is away. DOJAR Sir, Lieutenant Jaid's training was very specialised CROSS Lieutenant, whether she is replaced by a non-specialized person or not, it is still unacceptable for your to pare down rotas like this just because one member of your team is absent. It's the sign of a weak team. I'm sure you're aware that Ionis, like any other planet nowadays, has its share of extremists that are not akin to Federation policy. Just because we're taking time off doesn't mean we can let standards drop. DOJAR Sir, I... CROSS Dojar, replace the Lieutenant. (MORE) RENAISSANCE: "Encounters of Chance" - ACT ONE 8. CROSS (CONT'D) Four is the minimum number of teams I want on this ship. Understood? DOJAR Yes, sir. I'm sorry. CROSS Does anyone else have any business? Nobody says anything, as a comm CHIRPS. SUKOTHAI'S COMM VOICE Sukothai to Quinlan, your guests have arrived. QUINLAN Acknowledged. CROSS I think that's our cue to leave. Everyone have a good shore leave. They all NOD and start to stand. ELRIS Just to say, in the capitol city, Traken, this weekend, the Bajorans are holding the annual Gratitude Festival, where we are given the chance of turning over a new leaf. It's usually a pretty spectacular show. CROSS Thank you, Doctor. Everyone files out, Elris hanging back. Cross looks at her. CROSS (CONT'D) You have that look in your face. ELRIS Weren't you a bit hard on Dojar? CROSS I don't think so, I will not have laxity on my ship. ELRIS Maybe so, but did you have to be so brusque with him, in front of everybody? RENAISSANCE: "Encounters of Chance" - ACT ONE 9.